Flood fears lessen in Lethbridge and Medicine Hat

New provincial forecasts indicate river flows in Lethbridge and Medicine Hat won’t be as high as first feared.

Some homes and buildings in the City of Lethbridge and Lethbridge County have sustained overland flood damage, but mitigation measures undertaken in Medicine Hat are expected to protect properties.

Lethbridge officials said the Oldman River peak flow is expected to hit 1,800 cubic metres per second Friday morning and likely won’t breach its banks. Residents were previously bracing for 1995 flood levels of around 4,500 cubic metres per second.

“We’re still concerned, we’re going to keep an eye on things,” said city spokeswoman Jody Meli on Wednesday.

About 250 homes have been affected by overland flooding, water in basements or sewage backup, Meli said, adding those residents should document damage.

The city’s emergency operations centre remains open but a state of local emergency has not been declared.

Lethbridge County is still under a state of local emergency and an evacuation alert for river valley residents will remain in effect until the peak has passed, officials said in a statement. No one has been ordered to leave their homes.

Overland flood mitigation measures will continue, and the county’s emergency operations centre will remain open until the evacuation alert is lifted. Residents were being directed to Picture Butte to obtain sand for sandbagging.

Lethbridge County officials said overland flooding in the area had affected homes, outbuildings, ditches, fields and roads.

Meanwhile in Medicine Hat, the South Saskatchewan River was expected to peak at 2,400 cubic metres per second Saturday morning, and evacuations were no longer expected to take place.

Forecasters had previously warned of rates similar to those seen during last year’s flood, approximately 5,300 cubic metres per second. Based on that forecast, some areas had been identified for potential evacuation, which would have affected about 6,000 residents in about 1,800 homes.

Brian Stauth, incident commander and the city’s fire chief, said those residents can now stand down.

Staff had started implementing temporary mitigation measures — including the installation of water-filled “muscle walls” and other berms — which can currently protect against a river flow of 3,750 cubic metres per second, he said.

“We’re finishing and maintaining that level as we wait for peak to reach and pass through Medicine Hat,” he said.

The emergency operations centre, which opened on Tuesday afternoon, will remain open and the state of local emergency, declared Tuesday evening, will remain in effect.

Residents in both cities are reminded to stay away from river banks.

cho@calgaryherald.com

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